This is another solution

http://www.velorbis.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=6

ken


Earl Bollinger wrote:
My company finaly got around to issuing me a laptop.
So now I have the issue of what to do with the thing when I commute by
bicycle to and from work. Commuting 23 miles one way makes it an interesting
challenge.
Since I live in Texas where we get nice days with no winds or 20mph winds,
100 degree F temperatures, and wonderful 40 to 70% humidity too, it does
make for a challenge.
So this weekend I came up with this rather crude but simple laptop carrier
for my commuter bike.
http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...al&media=image
I had some scrap aluminum left over from other projects so I fabricated this
carrier mount for my company's laptop and case.
The carrier is basically clamped onto the three support rods on the rear
bike rack That has the advantage of keeping the weight down low, where the
bike will handle better.
A couple of bungie cords is all it takes to hold the laptop onto the carrier
and bike.
Yes I did get carried away with the 1/4"x20 screws, but the 23 mile commute
seems to vibrate things off every now and then, so having a lot of extras
didn't seem like a bad idea at the time. There is a 12" chunk of 1.5"
aluminum angle stock, a 3/8" thick aluminum bar which is drilled and tapped
for 1/4"x20 screws to match up with the rear rack support bars.
The flat plate is a .090" thick hard stiff aluminum sheet stock about 12"
long by 6 inches wide. The outer aluminum plate is a scrap piece, I think
it's .060" thick, I sinply clamped it in a big vise and bent it over using a
big brass hammer.

Some past issues I had with laptops before, was if I use a backpack, which
works fairly good in the winter, but sucks big time in the summer as your
back gets absolutely drenched in sweat, etc. My commute is to the east in
the morning and to the west in the afternoon, so I am always facing the sun,
so a backpack doesn't do anything to shading the back from the sun. A
backpack quickly becomes a nuisance on my long commutes. I would much rather
carry everything on the commuter bike instead.

Then I have had problems with the handles pulling out or off of the bags in
the past. When I looked closer I see that the handles are typically cheaply
riveted on and only a thin rivet edge is holding the handle on. Other bags
had crummy D rings on the handles that spread apart easily causing the
handle to come off. The shoulder straps are typically made with plastic
clips that seem to break off when you really don't want them to, like when
you have to walk a mile at the aiport terminal or something. So there you
are with a broken shoulder strap and a broken handle trying to rush over to
make your flight on time. But in the past I used to drill out the rivets and
put in screws with nuts and washers to hold on the handles better, and use a
simple flate aluminum or steel sheet across the top of the rear rack and
simply hang the laptop off the side by the handle. Then a simple bungie cord
would keep the laptop from flopping around too much.

I have tried carrying a laptop on top of the rack, and that works Ok too,
but the weight up high like that is very noticeable on how the bike handles,
so I didn't like that method too much.
I did try a messenger bag, and the laptop's weight really starts to
aggravate you in short order with the messenger bag wanting to slide down to
the front and interfere with your pedaling. maybe with a more upright riding
position on a hybrid bike, a messenger bag might be more suitable. On my
commuter bike I an leaning forward too much for a messenger bag.

So thus this new laptop carrier method popped up into my little brain, so
I'll see how it goes for the next week or so. :-)
My son took some photos of me pedaling around at low speed, while I was
checking out how it handled, and I don't see any problems so far.
Since I am a fat old guy, the laptop's weight doesn't cause me to tilt to
one side like some people might think.
I still need to get some rubber trim strips to glue along the forward edges
of the aluminum for when I forget about the carrier I don't damage my ankles
too much.
Also one needs to carry along a garbage bag to put the case in if it looks
like it is going to rain.

Anyway I thought this might give some other people some ideas too.